"Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason."
-From "Common Sense," by Thomas Paine

Friday, February 19, 2010

Health premium numbers

I spoke to a retired secretary today. She pays $155 (25%) a month for her contribution to her health care premium, which doesn't include co-pays, deductibles or prescriptions. That seems reasonable until you realize that she gets $1000 a month for a pension. It also seems reasonable if you don't realize she was paying 15% a few years ago, and health care costs for the City and consumers keeps rising.

Where will it end? Hopefully she won't turn to a life of crime in the Canal District to pay her medical bills.